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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: degree · key · press · staff · ball · lash · can · bore

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. press — newspapers
  3. can — a tin
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. press — a publisher
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. can — to be able to
  8. key — for a lock
  9. key — in music
  10. ball — a great time
  11. staff — a stick
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. bore — to drill
  16. press — to push
  17. staff — employees
  18. key — the most important part
  19. degree — an amount
  20. ball — a dance
  21. degree — from a university
  22. staff — employees
  23. bore — to tire
  24. degree — temperature

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com